Photographic reproducing lamp



Dec. 6, 1955 D. B. ROGERS 5 3 PHOTOGRAPHIC REPRODUCING LAMP Filed June14, 1952 9 INVENTOR.

Dona/a' 5. Rogers LKJ ri 2,726,317 Patented Dec. 6 1955 PHOTOGRAPHICREPRODUCING LAMP Donald B. Rogers, Seattle, wash.

Application June 14, `1952, Serial No. 293507 3 Claims. (Cl. 240-1) Thepresent invention relates to improvements in photographic apparatusprincipally intended for making photoprint reproductions of printed ortypewritten sheets, usually referred to as copy.

More particularly, my invention relates to apparatus of the characterdescribed in which a movable source of light is passed over a sheet ofsensitized `paper supermposed on the copy for photographing the copy onthe said sheet.

'The principal object of the invention is to provide apparatus of thecharacter described that is compact, extremely simple in Constructionand operation, portable, and may 'ne readily carried in a brief case forimmediate availability wherever it may be required to take photographsof documents, letters or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carrier or housing forthe source of light, the housing being formed with an elongated windowopening and with a window arranged in the opening in such a manner thatthe outer or contact surface of the window projects beyond the housingso that the window may be readily guided over the sheets without beingin any way obstructed by any part of the housing.

It is further proposed to provide means in connection with the housingwhereby the latter is well ventilated and the light is subject toimmediate and almost automatic control to limit the time of lightingsubstanially to the time of exposure whereby all unnecessary heatingeffects are eliminated.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear as thespecification proceeds, and the new and novel features of 'myphotographic apparatus will be `fully defined in the claims attachedhereto.

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, forming part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 shows a rear View of .my light housing, parts being brokenaway;

Figure 2, an end view of the same; and

Figure 3, an enlarged section through the light housing and the copymounting means, taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1.

While 1 have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should beunderstood that various changes or modifications may be made within thescope of the claims hereto attached, without departing from the spiritof the invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, my light housing may beapproximately twelve inches long and square in cross-section, with thewalls approximately two inches in width. The housing is made ofrelatively light, metallic material and comprises a front wall 2, a topwall 3, a rear wall 4, and a pair of narrow flanges 5 defining thebottom opening extending throughout the length of the housing.

The ends of the housing are open, and it will be understood that thedimensions and weight of the housing are such that the latter may bereadily grasped in' one hand of the operator for guiding over a flatsurface.

A luminous tube 6 substantially coextensive in length with the housing,and approximately one inch in diameter, is mounted in suitable brackets'7 in the ends of the housing and may be connected to any suitablesource of electric current by any suitable means, including a switchmember S' mounted in the rear wall of the housing, substantiaily midwaythe length thereof. The member 8' is in the form of a button and is madeto close the tube circuit when pressed upon and forced inwardly.

The significant feature of the switch member 8' or button is, that whenan operator grasps the entire housing for pulling the latter over asurface (that is, to the right, in Figure 2) his middle finger Willautomatically come to rest on the button, with the result that on apulling movement to the right, there will be an automatic impulse orreflex to close the switch, while on stopping there will be an automaticimpulse to release the button and to open the circuit.

This arrangement almost automatically limits the light periods to theexposure periods and prevents all unnecessary heating, which againallows the light system to be compacted into a very small and convenientunit.

The window opening in the bottom of the housing is closed by the plateglass Window 8, which has tapered side edges 9 resting on the fianges 5and held thereto in any suitable manner, as by brackets 11.

The piate or window is of sufcent thickness to bring its outer or bottomface PLZ entirely below the housing, so that when the bottom face rcstson a fiat surface, no other part of the housing will contact saidsurface. Furthermore, the tapers 9 also clear the housing in part, sothat when the housing is moved to the right or to the left (as seen inFigure 2) the tapers will have a smoothing etiect and will tend to crowdout any air or bubbles that may be present between the sheets of paperover which the housing passes.

The light housing thus far described may be used in connection with anysuitably positioned copy and sensitized paper, but I find that thespecially designed mounting means shown in the drawing is particularlyeffective in producing best results. j This mounting means comprises asuitable base 13 which may be in the form of a rectangular metal plateadapted to hold the copy 1 and the sensitized paper 15 thereon, andleaving a free edge 16, on which is mounted a strip 17 of somewhatheavier material, the thickness of the strip 17 being preferably such asto slightly exceed the combined thicknesses of the copy and thesensitized paper. This strip is of a width to support the light housingthereon, and will be referred to as the starting platform.

A third sheet 13 of translucent and preferably plastic material has oneedge Secured upon the bottom face of the base below the platform and isadapted for folding over the platform and the assembled sheets 14 and15, so as to form a cover for the latter and to hold the same in placeduring the printing operation.

The third sheet also serves as a filter. The tube 6 and the plate 3 arealso preferably made of ground glass, so there are really threelight-filtering media interposed between the source and the sensitizedpaper.

In use, the operator first places the copy on the base 13, then thesensitized paper on top of the copy and then folds the sheet 18 over theplatform and the sensitzed paper. Next, he grasps the light housing withone hand, and preferably midway the length thereof, with one fingerresting on the button 8', and places the housing on the platform, withthe glass plate or window testing on the third sheet.

With pressure applied on the button to start the light,

2,72e,s17 I he then pulls the housing over the copy and the sensitizedpaper with one even stroke, and the photoprint is finished. Uponfinishng, the operator Will almost automatically release pressure on theswitch button 8' which will then open the crcuit.

The slight elevation of the platform with respect to the sheets 14 and15 allows of a smooth, gliding travel from the platform upon the sheets.The projecting face of the Windows may be firmly pressed upon the sheetsand will eliminate all bubbles or air pockets during the period ofexposure, and the slanting or tapered approaches 9 cooperate insmoothing out the uuderlying papers.

Since the light is lit before the housing enters upon the sensitizedpaper, the operation will be effective from the very border of the copy,and there is no dimmed area along the border. The papers are completelysmooth and in close contact at the exposed area and the photoprint,therefore, Will be of uniform intensity as long as the stroke isuniform, and there is no danger of the sheets 14-15 shifting withrespect to one another, since they are held in place by the overlyingsheet 18.

I claim:

1. A photographic reproducing device comprising, a housing having a pairof spaced vertical walls interconnected along their upper edges by a topwall, said housing being open along its bottom and the width of all thewalls being substantially equal with the length of the housing beingmaterially greater than the width thereof, an elongate illuminatingdevice disposed lengthwse in said housing, a narrow elongate, flat plateof light-transmitting material disposed between the lower edges of saidvertical walls, means for securing said plate to the vertical walls withthe fiat lower surface of said plate projecting a substantial distancebelow the lower edges of such walls to present a smooth fiat pressuresurface for holding a superposed sheet of document and photosensitivepaper in intimate physical contact with each other in that area directlybelow said illuminating device.

2. In a photographic apparatus of the character described, an elongatehousing having vertical front and rear walls disposed in spaced relationand interconnected at their upper ends by a top wall member, the housingbeing open at both ends and there being an elongate illuminating tubedisposed within the housing between the front and rear wallssubstantially co-extensive therewith and in spaced relation to the loweredges thereof, the lower edges of said front and rear walls terminatingin inwardly directed ange portions, an elongate plate oflight-transmitting material extending entirely between the opposite endsof the housing, said plate having a fiat upper surface spaced below saidilluminating tube, the plate having a flat under surface portion ofsubstantial area disposed medially, longitudinally thereof and the undersurface terminating at opposite sides in upwardly inclined porticnsextending to the side edges of the plate, said plate being disposedbetween the front and rear walls with said inclined portions restingupon corresponding flange portions and with said flat under surfaceportion projecting below the lower edges of the front and rear walls topresent a smooth, flat pressure surface for holding a sheet oflight-sensitized paper and a superposed copy sheet in intimate physicalcontact in that area directly below said illuminating tube, and elongatebracket members secured to the inner surfaces of the front and rearwalls including portions hearing against the upper surface of the plateto secure the same to the housing.

3. In a photographic apparatus of the character de scribed, an elongatehousing having vertical front and rear walls disposed in spaced relationand interconnectcd at their upper ends by a top wall member, the housingbeing open at both ends and there being an elongate illuminating tubedisposed within the housing between the front and rear wallssubstantially co-extensive therewth and in spaced relation to the loweredges thereof, the lower edges of said front and rear walls terminatingin inwardly directed flange portions, an elongate plate oflight-transmitting material extending entirely between the opposite endsof the housing, said plate having a fiat upper surface spaced below saidilluminating tube, the plate having a fiat under surface portion ofsubstantial area disposed medially, longitudinally thereof and the undersurface terminating at opposte sides in upwardly inclined portionsextending to the side edges of the plate, said plate being disposedbetween the front and rear walls with said inclined portions restingupon corresponding fiange portions and with saidfiat under surfaceportion projecting below the lower edges of the front and rear walls topresent a smooth, flat pressure surface for holding a sheet oflight-senstized paper and a superposed copy sheet in intimate physicalcontact in that area directly below said illuminating tube, said fiangesbeing relatively narrow and the edges of said plate being disposedclosely adjacent the inner surfaces of said front and rear walls wherebythe width of said plate is substantially the same as the width of saidhousing, and elongate bracket members secured to the inner surfaces ofthe front and rear walls including portions bearing against the uppersurface of the plate to secure the same to the housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,251,076 Mauch Dec. 25, 1917 2,204,297 Brunk June 11, 1940 2,292,668Sheridan Aug. 11, 1942 2,294,444 Boroughs Sept. 1, 1942 2,431,520Streich Nov. 25, 1947 2,514,892 Miller et al. July 11, 1950 2,567,561Hoifmann Sept. 11, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,162 Great Britain Dec. 31,1904

